My 10 Favorite iPad Apps for a Busy Mom

I have had my iPad now for a couple of months, and while I know that I haven’t explored the app world like I should, I have managed to find a lot of favorites for our family. I am limiting this list to apps that are basically for me. I will write up one about kids apps at a later time.

Here are my current top ten favorite apps for the iPad:

1. 2Do: Tasks Done in Style ($6.99) – This is my favorite to do list app. I have it on my iPhone, and was thrilled when they released an iPad version. (I was able to just do an update so I didn’t have to buy it again.) 2Do is easy to use and allows me to break up my life into categories. I have separate to do lists in home, school, Tiny Owl (that’s for all of my Tiny Owl, LLC types of things like the blogs and my Etsy shop), work (that’s therapy stuff), etc. I can prioritize tasks, schedule due dates, or just have them sit on there forever.

(Not an official list entry, since I don’t have this app, but I found 2DoBefore while looking up 2Do. It looks like a super cool “bucket list” app. Might be fun to try for $0.99)

2. Twitter (Free) - A free and fabulous way to keep up with your Twitter account on the go. I had a little bit of a tricky time playing around with it when I first downloaded it. But, once I switched Twitter on my computer to the new Twitter layout, then this felt a lot more natural.

3. Friendly for Facebook ($0.99) – Another easy way to keep up with your social media, but this time with Facebook. I tried a couple of Facebook apps, but found this to be the easiest for me to use and keep up with.

4. Flipboard (Free) – My friend Rob claimed to me that if I downloaded this app, I may never look at Twitter or Facebook through another app again. While I still do look at other apps, I can definitely see what he’s saying. I love the way that statuses are displayed, the fact that you actually see more about links that people leave, and that you can flip through it all like a book. When there’s no cost involved, it’s silly not to give it a try.

5. Star Walk for iPad ($4.99) – Oh my cool! Our whole family has enjoyed grabbing my iPad and going out to look at the night sky. Want to know the name of that constellation? There’s an app for that! (The make a version of this for the iPhone too.)

6. Pages ($9.99) – I really enjoy having a way to have a word processing program, which can has templates to easily make things like project proposals, invitations, thank you cards, recipes, resumes, etc. Documents can be emailed or sent or shared a variety of ways (none of the others are options I have currently). This is a very spiffy app, and is one the top grossing paid apps.

7. Dropbox (Free) – Speaking of documents, I really enjoy Dropbox (that’s a link to the actual site, not the app). It’s a free way to store documents, pictures, files, and so forth online and then bring them up on different computers. So, for instance, I have mine registered on my laptop, the desk top computer in our house (which has our color printer attached to it) and on my iPad (though the Dropbox app), and I can share documents between those two devices then. I especially love it for being able to put things like eBooks that I buy from other bloggers on it so I can take them with me.

Like I mentioned, Dropbox is even great for non-iPad users. In my house, we have two printers but neither is wireless. So, if I want color prints when I’m on my laptop, I drop it in Dropbox and open it on the desktop computer. So, whether you use an iPad or not, if you have multiple computers, check out Dropbox.

8. 52 Organizing Missions ($9.99) – Yes, this does seem a little pricey for an organizing app, but I really like it. I have only worked on a couple of missions so far, but I love the set up of it. Each of the 52 tasks (which are from a variety of areas in your life) gives you an overview of the task, steps to get it done, dos and don’ts, and an extended mission. You then mark the task complete (extended mission is optional). The idea is that each task should be able to be done in 30 minutes. (There is a timer in the app.)

9. WordBook XL – English Dictionary & Thesaurus for iPad ($2.99) – It’s like carrying around a big, fat reference book in your slender little iPad. What could be better? (Disclosure: I have loved a thesaurus since I was a teenager. I can’t help it.) This one is great for homeschoolers!

10. Calendar – I have to admit that my number one most used app is one that comes pre-installed with the iPad (as well as with the iPod Touch, and I assume with the iPhone as well). I have it synched up to my Google Calendar on my computer (which is also synched to my iPod Touch). Love it! My absolute favorite.

(Bonus apps not on the list: 1. If you’re Catholic, check out the iMissal (Catholic, Mass Reading, Calendar, Lectionary) app. It’s not offered as an iPad app, but you can enlarge it on the iPad and the words just aren’t 100% crisp, but still very nice. 2. Rob swears by Evernote, which is free. I downloaded it when he told me to, but I haven’t registered it yet. It looks fabulous online though, and I hear lots of amazing things about it.)

Thanks for a great listing! Let me just add one free productivity app that I find truly helpful, Intuition aka “mom’s personal assistant”(www.iconapps.com) has helped me organize schedules and sort activities in such a way that none will be forgotten.It also has a comprehensive grocery listing that saves time in thinking what to buy. I have been really forgetful lately (thanks to epidural) so I appreciate this app a lot!